Safety device for elevators.



PATENTED-SEPT. 25, 1906.

W. G. TENGYH. SAFETY DEVICE FOR ELEVATORS.

APPLICATION I'ILED DEC. 9, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES.

THE NORRIS Psrsns cm. WASHINGTON, n. c,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR ELEVATORS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 25, 1906.

Application filed December 9, 1905. Serial No. 291,091.

To wZZ whmn zit may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM C. TENOH, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Lynn, in the county of Susquehanna and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and Improved Safety Device for Elevators, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to elevators; and. it consists, substantially, in the details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more particularly described, and pointed out in the claims.

The invention has reference more especially to safety devices for elevators; and one of the principal objects thereof is to provide means for preventing overhoisting of the ele-- vator-cage or elevator within the elevatorshaft, either from overwinding of the'hoist-' ing-cable for the cage or from other causes.

A further object is toprovide means for the purpose specified, which are simple in their embodiment and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture or install, besides being thoroughly effective and reliable in operation and possessing the capacity for long and repeated service.

The above and additional objects are attained by means substantially such as are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in Which Figure 1 is a sectional plan view of my improvements, taken on the broken line 1 1 of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional eleva; tion taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view in detail of the automatically-operated valve for controlling the brake devices for the winding shaft or drum for the hoisting-cables for the cages or lifts employed. Fig. 4 is also an enlarged sectional view in detail, and Fig. 5 is a view in detail to more clearly indicate the construction and operation of the brake-shoe for the winding shaft or drum.

Before proceeding with a more detailed description it may be stated that in the form of my improvements herein shown I preferably employ two elevator cages or lifts (although but one only may be employed) working in the elevator-shaft, together with hoisting-cables therefor, and a winding shaft or drum around which said cables are wound reversely, so that as the winding shaft or drum is caused to be revolved first in one direction and then the other one of the cages or lifts will be caused to ascend and the other to descend within the elevator-shaft in a manner well known in structures of this kind.

The winding shaft or drum for the hoisting-cable is operated by driving connections from, preferably, two engines, (although one engine may be employed in some instances,) special steam connections being employed between the engines and a boiler, from which steam is derived as the motive power for the engines, the said winding shaft or drum being provided with a brake wheel or disk, as will presently be explained. A brake-shoe is employed in association with said brakewheel, together with special manually-operated means whereby the same may be caused to be applied to the wheel or disk at will in order to bring the cages or lifts to a stop within the elevator-shaft, special means being also employed for causing said brakeshoe to be applied to the brake wheel or disk automatically in the event of overhoisting of either one of the cages or lifts, thereby preventing accident or mishap to the cage or lift or to the usual head-gear located at the upper part of the elevator-shaft. Said lastmentioned special means also operate at the same time to shut off the supply of power to the engines, and thereby stop the latter simultaneously with the stopping of the cages or lifts. While I have herein represented my improvements in a certain preferred embodiment, it will be understood that I am not limited thereto in precise detail, since immaterial changes therein may be made coming within the scope of my invention.

I have herein represented my improvements as employed in'connection with elevator cages or lifts operating in a shaft therefor sunken in a coal or other mine; but it will be understood, of course, that the same are equally applicable to elevators generally.

Reference being had to the drawings by the designating characters thereon, 1 represents an elevator-shaft sunken in a mine or the like and provided at the four corners thereof, as well as at opposite sides of the same, with vertical frame members 2 and 3, extending any desired height above the level or surface 4 of the ground at which operations are being carried out. Located within the shaft are opposite sets of vertically-dis posed guides 5 for sets of shoes 6, carried at the sides of duplicate cages or lifts 7, each having at the sides thereof upwardly-inclined braces 8, connected together at their upper ends by means of a transverse member 9, to

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which an end of' a hoisting-cable 10 for the be erected at cage may be centrally securedat 11, for instance-in any suitable way. Each cage or lift 7 is provided, preferably at the outer side thereof, with a roller 12, carried at the end of a spindle 13, working in a bushing or hearing 14 therefor, secured within the side beam 15 of the floor of the cage by means of bolts or rivets 1.6 or in any other suitable way, said spindle being preferably screwthreaded from the inner end thereof and provided with a nut 17 by means of which the spindle and roller may be removed whenever desired.

Pivoted at the upper end of the shaft 1 at 17 to a cross-beam 18 at each side of the shaft is an upwardly-extending lever 19 for cooperative association with the roller 1.2 at the corresponding side of one of the cages or lifts, said lever being provided with inwardlydisposed flanges 20 at the edges thereof, between which works the roller associated with the lever. Said levers 19 are disposed opposite to each other and are duplicates of each other, both normally inclining from a vertical line, as shown. The lower extremities of these levers are preferably widened out, as shown, so as to allow for slight changes in lateral position of the rollers.

The levers 19 are jointed to parallel rods 23, which in turn are in movable connection at 24 with a cross-tree 25, having slidable support on parallel horizontal guides 26, maintained at the desired elevation by means of struts 27 at one of the ends thereof, the other ends of said guides being properly secured to the framework above the elevator-shaft in any suitable way. The said cross-tree is provided substantially central thereof with a link 28, in movable connection with which at 29 is the inner end of a reciprocatory rod 30, the outer end of which is in movable connection at 31 with an arm 32, carried by the spindle 33 of an oscillatory valve 34, working in a casing 35 therefor, in opposite sides of which said spindle 33 is rotatably supported, the interior of the casing 35 being circular in form and the said valve 34 having a curved face 36, moving on the inner face of the easing in the operations of the valve, as will presently be explained.

.The hoisting-cables 10 for the elevator cages or lifts 7 each extend upwardly within the framework structure above the elevatorshaft 1 and over a sheave or guide-pulley 37 therefor. Thence one of said cables extends to and is wound around a winding shaft or drum 38 in one direction, (see Fig. 1,) while the other cable also extends to and is wound around the winding shaft or drum in the reverse direction, as shown, the winding shaft or drum 38 being supported in suitable bean ings 39, 40, and 41 therefor, suitably located upon the upper surfaces of walls 42, 43, and.

44 of a brick or other structure 45, which may the surface of the ground in proper proximityto the elevator-shaft. The ends of the winding shaft or drum 38 are provided with cranks 46 in movable connection at 48 by means of rods 48' with guides or reciprocatory cross-heads 49, working on parallel guides 50 therefor, said cross-heads being connected at 51 to rods 52 of pistons (not shown) working in engine cylinders 53, mounted upon suitable supporting-frames 54 therefor, said cylinders being of well-known form and usage with structures of this kind and being provided with the usual valvechests 55, in which work suitable slide-valves, (not shown,) the stems 56 of which are in movable connection at 57 with crank-pins 58, having similar connection at 59 with eccentricrods 60, carrying at the inner ends thereof eccentric-straps 61, encircling eccentrics 62, carried by the winding shaft or drum 39, these connections being of ordinary form, and it is mentioned that the crank-pins 58 are pivoted at 63 upon suitable supports 64 therefor on the adjacent ones of the two sets of guides 50 for the cross-heads or slides 49, as indicated in Fig. 2.

The valve-chest of the engine-cylinders are connected together by means of a steampipe 65, (see Fig. 1,) and communicating with this pipe substantially centrally between the engine-cylinders is a downwardly-extending pipe 66, coupled at 67 to the inner end of a horizontally-disposed pipe 68, having communication with the steam-space of a boiler (not shown) and being also in communication at 69 with another stea1n-pipe 7 O, having communication at 71 with still another horizontally-disposed steam-pipe 72, having communication at 7 3 with another downwardly-extending steam-pipe 74, the lower end of which is in communication with a valve-case 75, in whicn may be carried a fourway valve, (not shown,) said case having an exhaust 76 for steam and the valve being provided with a handle 77, by which the said valve may be operated to apply the brakeshoe to the brake devices, as presently to be explained. Having communication at 77 a with said. valve-case is a steam-pipe 78, communicating at 79 with another pipe 80, having communication at 81 with a brakecylinder 82, near the inner head thereof, while also having communication with said valve-case 75 from the opposite sides thereof at 83 is still another steam-pipe 84, having communication at 85 with a pipe 86, communicating with the cylinder 82 at 87 or near the outer head thereof. The said pipe 84 being also in communication at 85 with an inwardly-extending pipe 87, the inner end of which is in communication at 88 with a pipe 89, having communication at 90 (see Fig. 3) with a passage 91, formed in a branch 92 of the hereinbefore-mentioned casing 35, the

said branch being screw-threaded interiorly lIO ' the said valve either for the purpose of admitting steam to the engine-cylinders via the pipe 65 or cut off the steam, accordingly as may be desired in operation.

The arm 31, carried by the spindle 33 of the valve 34 in the valve-casing 35, is provided with a number of holes 96, by which the connection to the outer end of the rod 30 may be adjusted as may be required under different conditions of operation of the apparatus, and it will be seen that whenever the cages or lifts of the elevator are to be oper ated the operator may admit steam to the engine-cylinders 53 by taking hold. of the handle 95 of the throttle-valve and turning said valve in the proper direction within the case therefor, this operation being well understood in various forms of operating devices for elevators. lVhenever it is desired to bring the cages or lifts to a stop at any point within the elevator-shaft, then the operator simply takes hold of the handle 77 of the valve within the valve-case 75 and by properly manipulating said handle the said valve is operated to permit steam to pass to the cylinder 82 via the pipes 84 and 86, whereupon the piston 96, working in said cylinder 82, is driven forwardly, and in this way is the brake-shoe 97,

having pivotal support at 98, (see Fig. 5,) carried into diagonal contact with a brake wheel or disk 99, carried by the winding shaft or drum 38. (See Fig. 1.) Thus may the operator bring the elevator cages or lifts to a stop at any time desired, and then when it is desired to release the brake-shoe 97 from the brake wheel or disk 99 the operator so manipulates the handle 77 for the valve in the valve-case 75 as to shut off the steam supplied to the cylinder 82 via the pipes 84 and 86 and to open up communication with said cylinder 82 and valve-case 75 at the inner end of the cylinder or opposite side of the piston, whereupon the said piston is caused to move in the reverse direction, thereby carrying the brake-shoe out of engagement with the brake wheel or disk, the steam on the opposite side of the piston being forced outwardly from the cylinder by the pipe 86 and 84 to the exhaust 76 of the valve-case 75, all of which, it is thought, will be fully understood.

As the elevator cages or lifts are operated within the shaft the roller 12 of each ascending cage or lift enters between the lower ends of the flanges on the lever 19, disposed at that side of the shaft, whereupon the roller begins to exert pressure upon the outermost one of said flangesthe one at the right in Fig. 2, for instanceand thus is the lever 19 caused to be swung outwardly and drawing upon the rod 23, having movable connection with the guide at its upper end, it being understood that the rod 23 for the other lever 19 remains stationary at this time, the pivotal connection 24 thereof serving as a center for the cross-tree 25 to swing upon, and as the firstmentioned rod 23 is thus moved outwardly the said cross-tree 25 is correspondingly moved at the end thereof connecting with the rod, thereby exerting a pull upon the rod and causing the arm 31 on the spindle 33 of the valve 34 to be carried to the dotted-line position thereof, (shown in Fig. 3,) the valve 34 being this way moved from the normal position thereof, (shown in full lines in Fig. 3,) thus to close communica tion between the valve-case 35 and the steampipe and open communication between said case 35 and the passage 91. in the branch 92 thereof, the steam being in this way out off from the engine-cylinders and bringing the winding drum or shaft to a stop. At the same time the brake-shoe 98 will be carried into frictional contact with the brake wheel or disk 99 by movement of the piston 96 and its rod, caused by steam being now admitted to the cylinder 82 behind the said piston 96 through the pipe 89 and the said pipes 87 and 86. In this way it is apparent that no overhoisting of either of the cages can possibly take place, and consequently all danger to life and property is obviated by the use of my improved safety devices, and whenever it is again desired to start the cages it is simply necessary to properly manipulate the valve in case 7 5 by the medium of the handle 77 therefor, whereupon steam will be admitted to the cylinder 82 in advance of the piston therein in the manner already explained with reference to the devices employed for manually controlling the operation ofthe cages.

For the purpose of supporting the cage or lift at the landing therefor I employ sets of stops 100, pivoted at 101 to the sides of the upright frame members 2, the same being connected by. links 102 with levers 103, there being one of the said levers in connection with each'pair of stops, as indicated most clearly in Fig. 2. To the levers 103 pull-rods 104 are attached, the same passing laterally to a convenient point, as shown. The stops 100 normally incline inwardly, as indicated, their inward movement being limited by chains 105, attached to the structure. In this way the stops are normally main tained by gravity within the shaft in the inclined position indicated in Fig. 2, but are capable of being swung outwardly when struck by the cage or lift if the cage or lift is carried above the landing, the weight of the parts serving to restore the stops to their original position, so as to prevent the cage from descending. For the purpose of catching the cage or lift in the event of an overhoist resulting in breaking the hoisting-cable after the steamsupply to the engine has been cut off and the brake devices applied, as already explained, I duplicate the stops 100 at a height above, as shown.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In safety devices for elevators, a cage working in a shaft therefor, a hoisting-cable for the cage, a winding-drum for the cable, an engine, connections therefrom for operating the drum, brake devices for the drum, a steam-supply pipe for the engine, having a valve-casing therein, a pipe leading from said casing, a steam-cylinder having connection with this pipe, and having therein a piston provided. with a rod movably connected with the brake devices, a movable device mounted on the shaft, avalve in the valve-casing normally closing communication between the second-mentioned pipe and the valve-casing, means connecting the movable device and the valve, and means on the cage adapted on overwinding of the cable to engage and operate the movable device, to close the steamsupply pipe to the engine and open communication between said supply-pipe and. said second-named pipe, thereby admitting steam to the steam-cylinder for moving said piston to apply the brake devices to the windingdrum.

2. In safety devices for elevators, a cage working in a shaft therefor, a hoisting-cable for the cage, a winding-drum for the cable, an engine, connections therefrom for operating the drum, brake devices for the drum, a steam-supply pipe for the engine, having a valve-casing therein, a pipe leading from said casing, a steam-cylinder having connection with this pipe, and having therein a piston provided with a rod movably connected with the brake devices, a guide movably mounted on the shaft and having flanges along its edges, a valve in the valve-casing normally closing communication between the second-named pipe and the valve-casing, means movably connecting the guide and the valve, and a roller on the cage adapted on overwinding of the cable to enter between the flanges of the guide, and operate the latter to turn. the valve to close the steam-supply pipe to the engine, and open communication between said supply-pipe and secondnamed pi e, thereby admitting steam to said steam-cy inder, for moving said piston to apply the brake devices to the winding-drum.

3. In safety devices for elevators, a cage working in a shaft therefor, a hoisting-cable for the cage, a winding-drum for the cable, an engine, connections therefrom for operat- I. l I? ing the drum, brake devices for the drum, a steam-supply pipe for the engine, having a valve-casing therein, a pipe leading from said casing, a steam-cylinder having connection with this pipe, and having therein a piston provided. with a rod movably connected with the brake devices, a movable device mounted on the shaft, a valve in the valvecasing normally closing communication between the second-mentioned pipe and the valvecasing, means connecting the movable device and the valve, and. means on. the cage adapted on overwinding of the cable to engage and operate the movable device, to close the steam-supply pipe to the engine and open communication between said supply-pipe and said second-named. pipe, thereby admitting steam to the steam-cylind or for moving said piston toapply the brake devices to the winding-drum, said first-named means comprising a cross-tree and guides therefor, a rod between one end thereof and the movable device, an arm carried by the valve, and a rod between the cross-tree and said arm.

4. In safety devices for elevators, a cage working in a shaft therefor, a hoisting-cable for the cage, a winding-drum for the cable, an engine, connections therefrom for operat ing the drum, brake devices for the drum, a steam-supply pipe for the engine, having a valve-easing therein, a pipe leading from said casing, a steam-cylinder having connection with this pipe, and having therein a piston provided with a rod movably connected with the brake devices, a guide movably mounted on the shaft and having flanges along its edges, a valve in the valve-casing normally closing communication between the secondnamed pipe and the valve-casing, means movably connecting the guide and the valve, and a roller on the cage adapted on overwinding of the cable to enter between the flanges of the guide, and operate the latter to turn the valve to close the steam-supply pipe to the engine, and open communication be tween said. supply-pipe and second-named pipe, thereby admitting steam to said steamcylinder, for moving said piston to apply the brake devices to the winding-drum, said firstnamed means comprising a cross-tree and guides therefor, a rod between one end thereof and the movable device, an arm carried by the valve, and a rod between the crosstree and said arm.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM C. TENCH.

Witnesses W. B. TENOI-I, BAYARD CARPENTER. 

